The best thing about The Changeling was that there is almost no Angelina Jolie Movie Star in it.  The Changeling is the story of Christine Collins’ search for her lost son, even when the Los Angeles Police Department returns to her the wrong boy and insists she is just making trouble when she points out their error.  It is a period piece set in the 20’s and the story and cast are excellent.  John Malkovich is my personal favorite as Rev. Gustav Briegleb, a L.A. radio preacher that speaks out against police corruption.  With Malkovich, I am always prepared for his characters to be weird or diabolical, but his Rev. Gustav is a passionate and compassionate man out to stop a corrupt police force, save a city, and help out a frantic Christine Collins.  Jolie surprised me in a similar manner with her portrayal.  Her repeated portrayal of hard, strong, action-taking, hard talking women is balanced out well in her mostly understated, deep portrayal of Christine Collins.  Collins fears, sadness, and self-doubt are beautifully rendered by Jolie, and it is a side of her acting ability we don’t see often.  There are a few moments where her typecast persona does come through, and I thought these were the weakest parts of the movie.  Otherwise, the movie was wonderfully cast and acted, the scene and time-period wonderfully rendered, and the story was poignant and engaging.